Part 3 of 3 (Masterpost / Part 1 / Part 2)

Inspired by this art (First Snow, by @doubleleaf)

Associated song – Dawn, Poets of the Fall

It was early morning. The sun had not yet risen, but the light was already spreading. The sky seemed to drape Jerusalem in a weightless gray silk cloth, quivering and rippling in the faint breeze. Snow was falling.

Returning from a successful mission, Altair had shaken off his pursuers long ago and left them far behind. Now he made his way slowly across the rooftops toward the bureau, breathing in the frosty air with pleasure and marveling at the rare sight. All the assassin’s weariness had vanished; in its place came a childlike thrill. With a light, springing step, he leapt from roof to roof. Altair felt more alive than ever.

Turning toward the familiar entrance of the bureau, he caught sight of a dark figure on the roof – and instantly knew it was Malik. The bureau chief stood with his back to him, gazing at the sky. Still clutching the bloodstained feather in his hand, Altair moved closer. Malik turned around.

“Malik.”

“Back already, novice?” His dark eyes narrowed.

“I already asked you—” Altair began wearily.

“Not to call you that? I know, I know. Well, it seems you’re not so hopeless after all. Today you managed to leave without causing a commotion across the whole city.”

Altair froze, afraid to move. Malik’s face wore a somewhat uncertain – or rather slightly embarrassed but warm – smile. A real smile, not the usual smirk. And he was smiling at him. Altair never ceased to marvel at the changes in Malik. It seemed that not long ago he had hated him. But these changes could not help but please Altair. After all, he himself was gradually changing too. He smiled timidly in response.

“What are you staring at?” Malik asked teasingly, shrugging his shoulders and pulling his collar up. “Never seen snow before? Seems you still have a lot to learn.”

Altair said nothing, only smiled and stepped closer. The assassin threw back his hood and lifted his face to the sky, flushed from running, letting the faint cold breeze brush against him and watching the snowflakes dance. There was something both touching and amusing in the way the usually serious and imperturbable assassin struggled to hold back the corners of his mouth, which kept rising.

Malik snorted, looked away, and followed his example. For a while, the two simply stood shoulder to shoulder in silence. The thin veil of clouds could no longer hold back the piercing rays of the sun, which pressed insistently toward the earth. The snowflakes, glittering and shimmering in the light, gave the snowfall a special beauty.

“We work in the dark to serve the light,” Altair said slowly, as if tasting the words again. He turned to meet Malik’s eyes with seriousness. “Light is beautiful, isn’t it? The night can hide anything. But sooner or later, the light will illuminate everything, and all that is hidden will become clear.”

Malik found no trace of his former arrogance in Altair’s gaze – only trust and friendship. “I didn’t know you were into philosophy! You’re growing up, novice!” the bureau chief wanted to quip out of habit. But he only nodded.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Soon, the snow stopped. After standing there for a while longer, Malik stretched and stepped toward the descent, waving his hand.

“Well,” he said in an exaggeratedly lively, casual tone, “let’s go down. I need to finish writing your work report… You can rest before you return to the old man.”

“I’m not sure if I should linger any longer…”

Malik grunted, sitting down at the descent marked with the symbol of the Brotherhood.

“Don’t worry, you can sleep peacefully. I haven’t tried to kill you in your sleep for a long time.”

His words and tone sounded like a joke, but the searching look he gave Altair was serious. Malik began to descend cautiously and heard the footsteps of the approaching assassin.

“Need help?”

“I can manage just fine on my own,” Malik snapped immediately and jumped down.

“How’s your arm?” Altair continued calmly, with a strange intonation as he perched at the edge. “If you need, I can bandage it again.”

Malik lifted his head sharply. In the bright morning light, only the assassin’s clearly defined silhouette was visible. Altair quickly slid down and was standing next to him in a second.

Now Malik could see his eyes clearly. They understood each other.

“It’s time for me to go. Safety and peace to you, brother,” Altair said warmly as he took his leave.

“Safety and peace, brother,” Malik replied with equal warmth, patting him on the shoulder.

The sun rose higher and higher, illuminating everything around them. A new day was dawning.

Divider by @uzmacchiato